The newsletter articles on this page provide valuable information on timely and interesting financial issues across a variety of subject areas, including retirement, investments, personal finance, annuities, insurance, taxes, college, and government benefits.

Life Is for the Living, and So Is Life Insurance

Life can be busy. The requirements of work and family often
leave little time to step back and think about where you've been and where
you're heading. But as your responsibilities grow, so does the need to evaluate
what would happen if life for you stopped. September is Life Insurance Awareness Month and a good time to reflect on how life insurance can help those you leave behind — the living.

Your spouse or life partner

A successful marriage is often predicated on sharing and
providing for one another, and that includes each other's financial
obligations. If you were suddenly no longer in the picture, would there be
enough money to pay for your final expenses, cover debt, and buy some time to
allow your significant other to adjust to a new way of life? Life insurance can
provide funds to cover immediate expenses and income to help support your
surviving loved one.

Your children

You've worked hard to provide for your kids, to give them
the chance to realize their hopes and dreams. Your children are likely your
greatest responsibility — a responsibility that doesn't end with your passing.
Whether your children are in diapers or about to enter college, if something
happened to you or your spouse, or both of you, would there be enough income to
continue to provide financially for your children? Life insurance can help
provide the resources for their continued growth and maturation.

Your home

Buying a home may be the largest single expenditure of your
life. While being a homeowner is exciting, mortgage payments, often lasting 30 years, along
with maintenance, utility costs, homeowners insurance, and real estate taxes can add up to a
long-term financial commitment. Adequate life insurance protection can provide
funds that could be used to cover these expenses, allowing your family to remain in
their home.

Your business

Do you own your own business? Life insurance can fit into
your business plan in many ways. It can be part of an employee benefit program,
with coverage under a group plan. Life insurance purchased on the lives of certain key employees
can protect your company from the loss of talented and valuable workers. And
life insurance can be used to fund a buy-sell agreement.

Caring for an aging parent or loved one

Are you
caring for an aging parent or loved one? Would the people who depend on you
be able to afford quality health care and a comfortable place to live without
your financial support? Life insurance can become extremely important in these
situations, helping to provide for these individuals in the event of your
death.

Planning for retirement

Preparing for retirement probably means you're saving as
much as you can in your 401(k), IRA, or other savings vehicle. If you die
before you get to enjoy your retirement, will your retirement plan die for your
surviving loved ones as well? Not only will your salary be unavailable to help
pay for current living expenses, but your income won't be there to build the
nest egg for the retirement of your spouse or life partner. Life insurance can
help provide funds that can be used for your spouse's or life partner's
retirement.

Your health has changed

If your health declines, how will it affect your life
insurance? A common worry is that your insurer could cancel your coverage should your health change. However, changes to your health will not affect your current insurance coverage, provided you continue to pay your premiums on time. In fact, you should take a
closer look at your life insurance policy to find out if it offers any
accelerated (living) benefits that you can access in the event of a serious or
long-term illness.

Leaving a legacy

Life insurance can be used to increase the size of an estate for your heirs. The death benefit could provide your beneficiaries with a larger legacy than might otherwise be
possible.
The cost of life insurance may be significantly less than the proceeds of the policy paid to your beneficiaries when you die.

Charitable giving

Donating a life insurance policy to a charity may enable you to make a larger gift than you otherwise could afford. Further, the government encourages charitable giving by providing tax advantages for certain charitable donations (the charity must be a qualified charity). This means that both you and the charity could benefit from your donation (though some charities may not accept a gift of life insurance for various reasons).

The cost and availability of life insurance depend on factors such as age, health, and the type and amount of insurance purchased. As with most financial decisions, there are expenses associated with the purchase of life insurance. Policies commonly have mortality and expense charges. In addition, if a policy is surrendered prematurely, there may be surrender charges and income tax implications.

Life insurance guarantees are based on the claims-paying ability and financial strength of the life insurance company issuing the policy.

This website may contain concepts that have legal, accounting and tax implications. It is not intended to provide legal, accounting, or tax advice. You may wish to consult an attorney, tax advisor, or accountant regarding your specific situation. No representations
are made as to the accuracy of the information contained herein or any information contained in any link provided herein.

This site is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a solicitation or offering of any security and;

1. Representatives of a broker-dealer ("BD") or investment advisor ("IA") may only conduct business in a state if the representatives and the BD or IA they represent (a) satisfy the qualification requirements of, and are approved to do business by, the state;
or (b) are excluded or exempted from the state's licensure requirements.

2. Representatives of a BD or IA are deemed to conduct business in a state to the extent that they provide individualized responses to investor inquiries that involve (a) effecting, or attempting to effect, transactions in securities; or (b) rendering personalized
investment advice for compensation. *Investment Advisory Services and Securities are offered through INVEST Financial Corp (INVEST) member FINRA,SIPC and Registered Investment Advisor

This communication is strictly intended for individuals residing in the state(s) of CA, FL, GA, LA, MD, MS, NM, TX and VA. No offers may be made or accepted from any resident outside the specific states referenced.

Check the background of this financial professional on FINRA's BrokerCheck.